Black Maxi Dress

There are certain pieces that never go out of style, a black maxi is one of them and is something that everyone should own. It’s effortlessly chic in an instant without any fuss (yes! the easier the better for me.) Better still, you can always bet on getting these inexpensively from fast fashion places like Forever 21 (I got mine from there for $10!) or invest in something a little more substantial like this draped one by Rachel Zoe.

I ended up making this maxi dress into a midi and loved it! Typically to make my dresses shorter when I’m not in heels, I put a skinny belt around my waist and slightly untuck the top part of the dress. Usually this will give me up to an inch or so off the ground and changes the shape of the maxi for a totally different look. Since I didn’t have a belt handy, I used the high slit on each side to my advantage and double knotted them together off to the side.

It was one of those things purely based off function because I was tripping over a smidge too long maxi. It wasn’t until I looked in a mirror that I realized it was actually a cute look… for all I knew I looked ridiculous, glad that wasn’t the case!

Flower intermission because who doesn’t love spring blooming bulbs? (pictured here: pink hyacinth)

Ok… Can we talk body issues for a second? Sometimes it seems like unless you have a perfectly flat stomach, maxi dresses just won’t work. Yet, I refuse to give up on my love for the maxi dress despite the length issues and my curves.

There are lots of styles of maxi dresses. Some of the most popular gather at the natural waist (great for a boyish figure since they add curves, not great for me at the moment) and the tight ones that I’m not comfortable in right now. This had me turning to a loose and boxy shape that’s not only ridiculously comfortable, but manages to hide problem areas (if you watch the video of this dress, you can really get a feel for it).

This style maxi dress is all about the accessories. Along with how I’ve worn it here and the idea of cinching it with a belt (which is still flattering, btw) it also looks great worn with a casual boho look (think tassel earrings and gladiator sandals). The goal with the maxi dress is to keep it looking relaxed, so if you wear this with a heel, go for a low profile one like this.